(The Center Square) — Maine campaign finance regulators want to crack down on ‘straw’ donor contributions, which they say have been illegally funneled into Democratic and Republican-backed causes despite rules banning the practice.

The Maine Ethics Commission recommends that state lawmakers increase the penalties for ‘straw’ donations, where a contributor gives money to an intermediary to be donated to a political group, cause or candidate to conceal the source of the campaign contribution. The proposal is expected to be discussed at the panel’s Oct. 30th meeting.